Gerry Cooney .vs. prime Ken Norton

I've seen plenty of Quarry, I got the "condition" you added about what you meant, but originally you had given the impression that you were directly putting them on the same level as fighters. Not accomplishments-wise, of course, but as a total package. That's what it seemed like. And then they removed your thread for no reason, so if you clarified there, I didn't see it.

 

well clearly Holyfield is better then quarry in every area. I don't think they are on the same level because Holyfield beat much better fighters and was just better on his own. but if you look at the way they fight sometimes and their brawling mentality, they are quite similar.
and i'm not sure what you mean about removing my thread. they removed my thread about me asking if this site was good or not. and i think they removed a different one but i don't remember haha

 

Yeah, I completely get what you meant now. And, that was the thread, I'm almost certain. I went to see if you'd replied to me being incredulous (when thinking you were putting them in the same league) and the damn thing was gone with that other thread. I thought it got moved but I checked my posted comments and my comments from it were gone too. It's gone. They went crazy on you, mate. "Screw this guy, I'll delete every thread of his I see. ZAP!"

 

I really don't like that cross armed defense against a body hooking specialist. (This is somewhat ironic, considering that Ken was a primary sparring partner for good buddy Frazier when Joe was at his peak.) Valle would have absolutely been gearing Gerry to exploit that inherent opening.

Ken caught the slow starting Bobick early, but Duane also had that deadly susceptibility to a crushing right. More commonly though, Norton tended to be reactive, and he let Shavers get off first. If he gave Cooney that same opportunity, Gerry would always seize it in an instant. He may have been a seemingly shy, soft spoken and tentative character outside the ring, but he could be absolutely ruthless inside of it against anybody who displayed weakness. Ken definitely had the power to hurt Cooney. Given his temperament and usual manner of boxing though, I just don't see him getting off and connecting first. For initiative, I'm convinced Gerry would always have a huge edge.

 

The cross arm can work well against body punching, it's just that Norton's defense in particular did not. Essentially he would either defend against the head or the body, leaving the other completely exposed, and he did not have the defensive instincts to make this work all of the time. This may be partly attributed to his late start in the sport (Norton did not start boxing until his early 20's and never against top class boxers until his late 20's).

Mixing up your attack is very important against Norton, which is why Shavers and also Cooney (although against a shot version) got him out of there quick. Shavers's looping right to the body followed up by a left hook combination worked like charm against a stationary Norton, who was completely unprepared for it.

 

Gotta admit you know your stuff

 

Thanx. What can I say? I got no life!